Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcaborim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcaborim’, characterized by its deep reddish-orange colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcaborim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcaborim’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during March 2016. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flower coloration, and a moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded JJ 214R, not patented, characterized by its medium scarlet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded 13601-1, not patented, characterized by its medium orange-colored flowers having a red center, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and a compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during August 2016 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2016 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcaborim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Deep reddish-orange colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a different flower color and less vigorous growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a different flower color and more vigorous growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is CABARET Orange Balcaborg’, U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/998,873, now abandoned. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcaborg’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is a         darker reddish-orange color than plants of ‘Balcaborg’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a smaller corolla diameter         than plants of ‘Balcaborg’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcaborim’. The plants were approximately 7 months old and grown in 3-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. for approximately 4 months. Treatments are described below in the Detailed Botanical Description.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcaborim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcaborim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in September 2018 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were approximately 7 months old and grown in 3-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. for approximately 4 months. Plants were given two pinches, the first at 3 weeks after cuttings were stuck and a second approximately 3 weeks later. Plants were treated with plant growth regulators of Daminozide at 2500 ppm and Chlormequat chloride at 750 ppm approximately 4 weeks after cuttings were stuck. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa x hybrida ‘Balcaborim’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding             selection coded JJ 214R, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding             selection coded 13601-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 20.0 cm. Width: Approximately 53.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 32.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color of             young stems: 146C. Color of mature stems: 146D with age             becoming woody N199A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning             downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 2.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137B             with midvein of 146C. Color of lower surface of young             foliage: Closest to 138A with midvein of 146D. Color of             upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with midvein of 146C.             Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 146B with midvein             of 146D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcaborim’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 134. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 35.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm.             Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion 174B, tube             portion 154C, venation of N92A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Occasionally shallowly notched. Length             from tube: Approximately 1.2 cm. Length of free portion:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture             of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:             Glandular pubescent, dense along venation. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when first             open: Closest to 45B with midveins of 46A. Color of lower             surface when first and fully open: Closest to 174D with             midveins of 59A. Color of upper surface when fully open:             Closest to 34A with midveins of 44A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 13A             with 46B at throat opening, venation of N77A. Color of outer             surface: 154D with venation of N77A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately             1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color             of lower surface: 138A with base of 144C.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament             color: 150C. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 8C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 145A. Style length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Style             color: 145B. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary             color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcaborim’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 